Labor’s draft news bargaining incentive scheme includes 2.25% levy on local revenues of digital giants

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Anthony Albanese has urged Google, Meta and TikTok to make deals with Australian media outlets to avoid a dedicated 2.25% levy on local revenues, warning digital giants should not be able to exploit the work of journalists to boost profits.

Releasing an exposure draft for the government’s news bargaining incentive (NBI) scheme on Tuesday, the prime minister said platforms could avoid the levy by signing new deals with publishers to pay for news content, and even greater offsets for making deals with smaller publishers. The government expects the plan will raise up to $250m annually for Australian journalism.

Republican, who has Masters of Divinity, represented Virginia in Congress for two terms

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Donald Trump has named the former Virginia congressman David Brat to be the next US ambassador to Australia, ending a 15-month vacancy in Canberra.

Brat served two terms in Congress until 2018 when he was defeated by a Democrat in a close race.

Minister tells Guardian Australia despite substantial changes to disability scheme, it will remain one of best support services ‘anywhere in the world’

• Listen to the podcast: Disability minister Mark Butler on the ‘necessary’ cuts to an NDIS ‘under pressure’

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Mark Butler has defended the government’s decision to trim the NDIS just days after announcing $53bn in new defence spending, with the health minister conceding Australians may be “uneasy” but insisting it would remain one of the best support services “anywhere in the world”.

The Coalition looks likely to back the proposed changes, despite alarm from the Greens and some in the disability sector about the 160,000 participants expected to be removed by 2030 and changes to who can access the scheme.

Announcing a major overhaul of the scheme, health minister Mark Butler said it was costing ‘too much and is growing too fast’

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At least 160,000 people are expected to be removed from the national disability insurance scheme by 2030, as the Albanese government looks to claw back savings by changing who can access the scheme.

The health minister, Mark Butler, unveiled a massive overhaul of the $50bn scheme on Wednesday, announcing the growth rate will be brought down to just 2% every year until 2030 in an effort to curb annual plan inflation and produce billions in savings.

Health minister faces backlash from states as he announces major changes to scheme ahead of May budget

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National disability insurance scheme service providers will be required to undergo mandatory character checks and eligibility rules will be tightened further for children under 18, as Labor moves to curb growth in the $50bn program.

But the health minister, Mark Butler, faces a backlash from state counterparts as he announces major changes on Wednesday, with Queensland accusing federal Labor of walking away from responsibilities to families dependent on long-term care.

Review recommends better use of NDIS data to identify repeat rorters and a requirement for providers to register with the government

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Organised crime gangs are using the national disability insurance scheme to launder money, earn income and hide assets, law enforcement officials have warned parliament, seriously undermining probity in the $50bn program.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has told a review into NDIS integrity that criminals are paying cash kickbacks to participants and their families, and sometimes resorting to intimidation and threats of physical violence towards vulnerable people to rip off taxpayers.

Government sources in multiple states say they are worried about the breadth of the changes and possible costs

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The states are increasingly on edge about Labor’s efforts to cut NDIS spending in next month’s budget, with officials asking the health minister, Mark Butler, to explain planned savings before a major speech this week.

It comes as the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, flagged on Monday morning that cuts to the NDIS will be “easily the most important part of the savings package that we will present on budget night”.

The defence minister insists that increases in spending did not happen because of thinktanks, retired generals ‘or washed-up bureaucrats’

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If there’s anyone who knows just how much pressure Donald Trump is heaping on allies to lift defence spending, it’s Richard Marles.

The message was received loud and clear when he met his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Singapore nearly a year ago.

Some petrol stations may see short-term outages and energy experts warn Victorian fuel prices could spike up to 20 cents a litre

• Full report: Geelong oil refinery fire

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The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will fly home early from his fuel diplomacy mission in south-east Asia, travelling overnight to Victoria after a huge blaze at one of Australia’s two oil refineries.

Albanese was set to leave Malaysia early on Thursday night and was expected to visit Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery on Friday morning, when he will receive a briefing on the damage.